Summit County Library Main Branch Closed Because of Water Leak

Update (11:30 a.m., Dec. 31): The reopening of the Summit County Main Branch Library is now scheduled for 9 a.m., Monday, Jan. 4 (not Jan. 2, as previously projected). Staff and volunteers are still working to put books and other materials back into place, following the Dec. 27 water leak.

SUMMIT COUNTY – The main branch of the Summit County Library, located inside the County Commons in Frisco, is closed to the public this week because of a sprinkler leak that drenched about one-third of the library’s floor area Sunday. Residents and visitors seeking library services should go the Summit County North Branch Library in Silverthorne or the South Branch in Breckenridge.

The Summit County Facilities Maintenance Department has determined that the leak was caused by condensation that accumulated in a sprinkler head and then froze, breaking the sprinkler line. Workers discovered and repaired the leak Sunday, Dec. 27, before any major damage occurred to the facility or library materials.

“No books are damaged, but we’ve had to move things around quite a bit to allow the carpet to dry out,” Library Director Joyce Dierauer said. “We have books piled just about everywhere that’s not wet.”

Books have been removed from shelves in the affected areas of the library, and the shelves have been raised up off the carpet to facilitate air circulation by large blowers. Workers are hoping the carpet will be dry by Wednesday. Once it’s dry, the carpet will need to be professionally cleaned, and damaged drywall will be repaired. The library is tentatively scheduled to reopen at 9 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 2.

“We’re hoping to open the doors again on Saturday morning, but library-goers should stay tuned for more information as the situation progresses,” Dierauer said.

The leak did not affect any other areas of the County Commons. All offices and meeting rooms are open during their normal business hours, and water service is in place.

Library patrons who have ordered books, DVDs or other items for pickup at the main branch in Frisco can retrieve them instead at the North Branch in Silverthorne.